“So, you’re from the Liu Family of the Central Region.” Lu Qingxuan’s tone carried neither anger nor warmth.
Guardian Liu Quan showed a faint, natural pride when his identity was seen through at a glance.
The Liu Family of the Central Region was an ancient clan that had endured for tens of thousands of years. Its foundation was unfathomably deep, and powerful experts were as numerous as clouds. Across the entire cultivation world, wherever one went, the name “Liu” itself commanded pride.
Liu Quan brought his hands together in greeting. Though the gesture was proper, his voice held an unmistakable sense of superiority, “Your insight is sharp. I am Liu Quan, acting under my young lady’s orders to protect Young Master Ye Fan. What happened today may be a misunderstanding. I ask that you give some face to the Liu Family of the Central Region. Where forgiveness is possible, grant it—let this matter end here, how about it?”
In his eyes, no matter how strong someone at the Divine Transformation Realm was, they would not easily provoke a behemoth like the Liu Family.
Risking one’s life for a mere 7th stage Qi Refining Realm junior simply wasn’t worth it.
Inside the Black Iron Ring, the Medicine Saint finally relaxed and quickly transmitted his voice, “Kid, there’s hope! He’s from the Liu Family of the Central Region. Judging by his strength, he’s at least at the 3rd stage Divine Transformation Realm! This is stable now—even someone in the Divine Transformation Realm must give the Liu Family some face. Don’t speak yet, just watch how he handles this.”
Ye Fan, however, felt confused.
The Liu Family’s young lady?
When had he ever met her?
Lu Qingxuan, however, glanced at Liu Quan with the gaze one reserved for the dead.
“Face? Your face… is that big?”
Liu Quan’s expression froze instantly. He hadn’t expected such blunt disregard.
His eyes narrowed viciously as his aura began to rise, layer by layer.
“Are you truly going to make an enemy of the Liu Family of the Central Region… for the sake of a Qi Refining junior?” His voice turned cold, the threat in it completely undisguised.
To ensure his young lady’s safety outside, he had already investigated every notable force and cultivator in Lizhou of the Southern Ridge.
Lu Qingxuan, Ancestor of the Azure Immortal Sect. 1st stage Divine Transformation Realm. The sect had a decent foundation, but in the Central Region, it would only count as second-rate.
That was all the information he had.
A mere 1st stage Divine Transformation Realm cultivator dared to ignore his 3rd stage cultivation—and even more, dared to disregard the Liu Family?
His earlier restraint had only been out of courtesy, acknowledging the other as a fellow Divine Transformation cultivator and a member of a righteous sect. He simply didn’t wish to create unnecessary slaughter in a remote place like Lizhou.
But since the other refused to appreciate goodwill, he would show no mercy.
Today, he would make this man understand that the authority of the Liu Family could not be provoked.
“Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit—” Killing intent erupted from Liu Quan as the Divine Essence within him surged violently. The terrifying pressure of the 3rd stage Divine Transformation Realm rose like a tidal wave, crashing down toward Lu Qingxuan.
However, before his words could finish—before his move could even begin—
“Azure Origin Sword Art.”
Two fingers became a sword.
Heaven-grade Low-grade technique—Azure Origin Sword Art!
Within Liu Quan’s perception, a horrifying sword intent instantly sealed every inch of space within a 30-meter radius around him.
Countless strands of sword intent transformed into butterflies, surging toward him from all directions.
The cultivation he took pride in—the 3rd stage Divine Transformation Realm—offered no resistance at all.
“N-No… impossible…” Liu Quan’s voice trembled violently. “You… your cultivation… weren’t you at the 1st stage Divine Transformation Realm?!”
“When you destroyed the Ye Family, I observed you from afar for a long time. How could that have been fake?!”
He couldn’t believe his own eyes.
At that time, the aura Lu Qingxuan displayed had undeniably been that of someone who had just entered the Divine Transformation Realm.
There was no way he could have been mistaken.
But the power before him now…
This overwhelming force that crushed even the thought of resistance—forget the 3rd stage—even the 4th or 5th stage Divine Transformation Realm might not match it.
Liu Quan’s pupils shrank to pinpoints as he roared with everything he had, “I saw it with my own eyes—”
“Pfft—”
A faint, nearly invisible line of blood appeared at the center of his forehead. It extended straight downward, passing over his nose bridge, lips, throat, and chest.
His roar stopped abruptly.
In the next instant, his body—and even his Primordial Spirit—split cleanly in two along that thin red line.
Lu Qingxuan didn’t even glance at the corpse. A faint azure glow flickered at his fingertips as he casually flicked them.
“Boom!”
A more tyrannical sword qi erupted. Liu Quan’s bisected body, along with everything on him, was instantly ground into the most primitive dust—completely erased from existence.
Body and soul annihilated.
Only then did Lu Qingxuan withdraw his hand and say calmly, “When dealing with people, one should always keep something in reserve. Didn’t you know?”
The entire exchange, from beginning to end, lasted no more than one or two breaths.
Inside the Black Iron Ring, the Medicine Saint—who had just relaxed moments ago—now felt his remnant soul nearly freeze solid.
The Medicine Saint was utterly terrified.
A 3rd stage Divine Transformation Realm expert.
A guardian of the Liu Family.
And just like that… gone?
Not even a single move exchanged—no, he hadn’t even had the chance to act before being instantly killed. Not even ashes remained.
What righteous sect Ancestor? This was clearly a god of slaughter!
If they didn’t run now, there would be no chance left.
At this moment, the Medicine Saint no longer cared about cost or consequences.
“Heavenly Demon Disintegration Escape Light!”
An incomparably pure surge of soul power burst wildly from the ring, instantly enveloping Ye Fan’s body.
Ye Fan’s entire body trembled. His vision was instantly flooded with crimson, and his consciousness fell into a brief void.
His body moved without his control, suddenly springing upward.
His flesh twisted in a grotesque manner as countless fine, blood-red cracks spread across his skin.
“Buzz!”
Threads of essence blood sprayed out from those cracks, gathering in the air into a dazzling crimson radiance that wrapped around him completely.
This was burning life, burning his very origin—exchanging an irreversible, devastating cost for a sliver of survival!
A trace of surprise flickered in Lu Qingxuan’s eyes.
Decisive.
But… trying to escape?
He immediately moved to act.
Yet in that split instant, the mass of blood light trembled violently, as if breaking through the restraints of space. With a sharp “whoosh,” it turned into a streak of light and vanished into the horizon at an unimaginable speed.
Only a faint scorched and bloody scent remained in the air.
At the same time, a streak of white light suddenly appeared in the sky, chasing closely after the crimson escape.
Lu Qingxuan’s raised hand paused midair, then slowly lowered.
“Qingyan, do not disappoint your master.”